July 21, 2026 - Washington, DC - The United States team, organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), delivered an impressive performance in the 67th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), held in Shanghai, China, from July 10 to July 20, 2026.
The six high school team members earned four gold medals, a silver medal, and a bronze medal, and placed second overall among 117 participating teams from around the world. US students Alexander Wang and Liam Reddy both received perfect scores, and along with Ruilin (Calvin) Wang ranked in the top ten among 666 individuals. This was Alexander’s fourth time and Ruilin’s second time representing the United States at the IMO. The number of countries and contestants participating this year broke IMO records.
Competition Results
Team USA’s members and awards:
- Liam Reddy, 16 (Utah) – Gold Medal
- Alexander Wang, 18 (New Jersey) – Gold Medal
- Ruilin (Calvin) Wang, 18 (Virginia) – Gold Medal
- Oron Wang, 17 (New Jersey) – Bronze Medal
- Royce Yao, 18 (Arizona) – Gold Medal
- Feodor Yevtushenko, 18 (California) – Silver Medal
Overall team ranking: 2 of 117 teams
L to R: Yang Liu (Deputy Team Leader), Ruilin (Calvin) Wang, Royce Yao, Alexander Wang, Liam Reddy, Feodor Yevtushenko, Oron Wang, John Berman (Team Leader)
About the International Math Olympiad
The IMO is the world’s premier high school mathematics competition, attracting the best young mathematicians from around the globe. Each participating country sends a team of six students who solve six proof-based problems over two days. The annual competition brings together hundreds of students from more than 100 countries and territories, promoting mathematical excellence and international friendship.
Team Preparation
Students qualify for the USA IMO team through a series of competitions organized by the MAA starting with the American Mathematics Competitions. Each year, approximately 300,000 students from over 6,000 schools and learning centers worldwide participate in these competitions. Students in the U.S. whose performance in the competitions stand out are invited to complete intensive training at the MAA Mathematical Olympiad Summer Program.
For more information on MAA AMC, including how to host a competition, participate, and other ways to get involved, please visit maa.org/amc.
Acknowledgments
Team USA thanks its leader, Dr. John Berman, and deputy team leader Yang Liu, as well as the many other instructors and graders who supported their training. A special thanks goes to Jane Street for supporting this year’s team!
About MAA
The MAA is the world's professional home for mathematicians, from classrooms, to campuses, to careers. Our mission is to advance the understanding of mathematics and its impact on our world. Learn more at maa.org.
Facts Only
* The US team was organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).
* The event was the 67th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), held in Shanghai, China, from July 10 to July 20, 2026.
* Six high school team members earned four gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal.
* The US team placed second overall among 117 participating teams.
* Liam Reddy (Utah) won a Gold Medal with a score of 16.
* Alexander Wang (New Jersey) won a Gold Medal with a score of 18.
* Ruilin (Calvin) Wang (Virginia) won a Gold Medal with a score of 18.
* Oron Wang (New Jersey) won a Bronze Medal with a score of 17.
* Royce Yao (Arizona) won a Gold Medal with a score of 18.
* Feodor Yevtushenko (California) won a Silver Medal with a score of 18.
* The team's members were listed as: Yang Liu, Ruilin (Calvin) Wang, Royce Yao, Alexander Wang, Liam Reddy, Feodor Yevtushenko, Oron Wang, and John Berman.
* Alexander Wang and Liam Reddy both received perfect scores.
Executive Summary
Full Take
The pattern observed here is the framing of high achievement through a specific, curated narrative structure—emphasizing individual perfection alongside team success. The structure highlights the dual nature of mathematical competition: individual genius (perfect scores by Alexander Wang and Liam Reddy) and collaborative performance (the team’s medal haul). This sets up an implicit tension between isolated brilliance and collective effort, a common theme in discussions of meritocracy versus group dynamics.
The implication lies in how success is defined and celebrated within elite academic settings. By publicly foregrounding the exceptional nature of the students while still anchoring the achievement in the context of a global competition, the narrative attempts to simultaneously validate individual cognitive capacity and normalize competitive participation. The pattern detected is ARC-0043 Motte-and-Bailey: presenting the high-value, individualized peak (perfect scores) as the core evidence, while using the broader context (team ranking, international scope) to establish legitimacy for that peak achievement. The under-stated mechanism here is the reliance on reputation (MAA involvement, previous representation) to validate the performance, which acts as a form of soft authority rather than relying purely on the raw data of the problem-solving itself.
What would change this perspective? If subsequent reporting focused more deeply on the internal negotiation or mathematical reasoning processes exhibited by the team, rather than simply the scores and rankings, it might shift focus from *what* was achieved to *how* that achievement was mentally constructed, potentially opening avenues for a deeper understanding of the cognitive demands of IMO success. How is the inherent value placed on individual versus collective mathematical ingenuity balanced in these types of high-profile reporting?